It’s no secret the Chinese love to make blatant copycat versions of things. They’ve created rip off versions of iPhones, Ray Ban sunglasses, Starbucks, Jordans and everything else under the sun. So are you really surprised they decided to make a replica of Elon Musk’s Tesla Model S?
Normally these Chinese knock-off cars look significantly worse than the original car they pulled inspiration from. The Lifan 320, which is a copycat of the Mini Cooper, looks like a sad, dejected version of the stylish little hatchback. In the words of Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson, it “looks like someone described a Mini to someone on the telephone.”
The Model S ripoff (actually named the Youxia X) is a bit different, though. Sure it looks like a Model S, however we’re a bit keen on the styling. It’s sharper than the rather bulbous Model S, and the more aggressive LED headlights would look more fit to a McLaren than any electric car.
The performance statistics don’t seem so bad, either. As Jalopnik reports, the Youxia X is rear-wheel drive and has a peak output of around 270KW (362 HP), enough to propel the Youxia X from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Three battery sizes are offered, 40, 60 or 85 kWh, giving it a range of either 136, 205, or 285 miles, respectively.
The best part about the Youxia X, however, is its loose Knight Rider ties. Youxia is what Knight Rider was called in China, and the young 28-year old founder of the automaker just so happens to be a huge fan of the movie. As such, the Youxia X has an LCD screen capable of displaying KITT’s red panel, the Youxia logo and other designs on its grille.
We’re not sure if the Youxia X will ever reach production, or if it will be any good if it does, but the idea behind the car seems strong enough. It probably won’t be a hit in North America, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it caught the attention of some of China’s prospective electric car owners.
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